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5. A WORLD-RENOWNED
QUALITY OF LIFE
Already one of the world’s top travel destinations, Florida is a natural choice for permanent residence by visitors who subscribe to a “play here, stay here” philosophy. In fact, in a new national survey by the Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends project, three Florida cities ranked among America’s most desirable places to live: Orlando (4th), Tampa (5th) and Miami (12th).
Climate is a huge draw, of course. Average annual temperatures in Florida hover between 81 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. And our capacity to provide year-round recreational diversion is unsurpassed. Florida boasts 1,370 golf courses — more than any other state — and with 1,350 miles of sandy coastal shoreline and 11,761 square miles of inland waterways, there are plenty of opportunities for boating, fishing, snorkeling and other water-based activities.
The fabric of everyday life is tightly woven here, too. Affordable housing and sophisticated healthcare options are readily available, and our educational system is making significant strides. Florida snagged a spot among the nation’s top 10 states in Education Week’s “2009 Quality Counts: Portrait of a Population.” In this report, which tracks state policies and performance across key areas of education, Florida ranked 4th in the nation in the teaching profession category, 7th in student achievement and 10th overall.
It Takes a Village
Adding to Florida’s already unique quality of life is a team spirit in many Florida communities, and three are garnering recognition for their efforts. In August 2009, the Florida League of Cities bestowed its first-ever Florida Municipal Achievement Awards in three categories:
 Eustis (East Central/Space Coast Region) received the Florida City Spirit Award for its Fountain Green project, a portable sculpture park that can be moved from site to site for an instant “green-up.” - Tallahassee (Northwest Region) took the Florida Citizenship Award for its citizen involvement initiatives, which include Citizens’ Police and Fire Academies and a Neighborhood Energy Challenge to encourage conservation.
- Tamarac (Southeast Region) earned the Environmental Stewardship Award for proactive conservation programs — like recycling and an organic community garden — that encourage citizens to act as environmental stewards.
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